Teething in Babies: Symptoms and Remedies
Teething: how to relieve baby?
Grumpy, baby seems to have sore gums, salivates, and bites. It is possible that his first baby teeth will soon appear. Teething is a wonder for parents, but also a source of worry because it is painful. Here is how to relieve baby during teething.
What is infant teething?
Around the 6th to 8th month of life, babies see their first teeth come out. This phenomenon that delights parents is called teething. It is not always a pleasure for babies.
The formation of baby teeth
Did you know that baby teeth form during pregnancy? The first dental buds appear in the fetus from the 8th week! They will produce 20 baby teeth, divided equally on each jaw. From the 4th month of pregnancy, some of the dental buds that will produce the permanent teeth (adult teeth) form under the baby teeth. All these structures are still hidden under the gums.
Baby's oral health begins before birth. Good nutrition from the mother, varied and in sufficient quantity, allows for the optimal dental development of the unborn child.
Otherwise, the protective layer of enamel on the surface of the teeth may become deficient. The child will be more prone to early cavities, which cause pain and infections. Feeding disorders, as well as speech and learning disorders, can then impact the infant's development.
The eruption of baby teeth
In general, baby teeth, also called temporary, primary or deciduous teeth, erupt through the gums from 6 months after birth. On average, we observe the emergence of:
- 8 incisors from 8 to 13 months;
- 4 canines from 16 to 23 months;
- of the first 4 premolars from 12 to 19 months;
- of the 4 second premolars from 23 to 30 months.
The 20 temporary teeth are thus erupted before the age of 3. However, there are variations between children, so don't worry if your baby doesn't fit exactly into these intervals.
Since cavities can appear during the eruption of the first teeth, you can clean your baby's gums after each meal using a damp compress. This simple gesture removes food debris, as well as dental plaque formed by bacteria. Once the first teeth appear, the use of a toothbrush of the appropriate size is recommended ( learn how to prevent dental cavities ).
Symptoms of teething in babies
Teething is not always an easy task for babies. However, the symptoms vary greatly from child to child and from one tooth to another.
The breakthrough through the inflamed gums and the movements in the jaw bones cause pain. Irritability and agitation, lack of appetite, problems falling asleep and night waking can result. To reassure baby before going to sleep, you can read our article Knowing how to put baby to bed for a better sleep .
In order to hydrate the gums during teething, the child salivates more and drools: perioral irritations may appear, that is to say on the skin around the mouth and especially on the chin. Wipe this area regularly and gently.
A mild fever, redness on the cheeks and buttocks are also symptoms of teething. Be careful, these signs are not specific: they can also be a sign of an infection! (see "Knowing when to consult" below).
Relieve baby during teething
Parents can relieve their child of the unpleasant symptoms of teething, including pain. However, some techniques frequently seen in families are strongly discouraged!
Relieve baby's teething pain naturally
Relieving the pain associated with your baby's teething starts with providing comfort: cuddles and little attentions will soothe him.
After washing your hands thoroughly, you can gently massage your gums. This gesture is simple to implement, and using a gum gel can increase its effectiveness. For proper hygiene, you can read our article on hand washing against viruses .
There are gels containing local anesthetics. They can be used in massage on the painful area with the advice of a health professional. There are also gels based on plant extracts known to have anti-inflammatory, soothing, and anti-bacterial properties. You can also turn to homeopathic solutions for which a health professional will be able to advise you.
Children who are prone to teething often need to bite. Teething rings are an ideal solution when their composition, shape and hardness meet the standards in force (NF EN 71-3). You can even cool a teething ring by placing it in the refrigerator to benefit from the analgesic effect of the cold. Under no circumstances should you place it in the freezer: it would be much too cold.
Bad ideas for relieving tooth eruption
Teething biscuits are ineffective and contain sugar. There is a risk that your child will develop cavities. For the same reason, putting honey or sugar on your fingers to massage the gums, or directly on the teething ring is strongly discouraged.
Coming from esoteric popular traditions, the use of an amber necklace to relieve teething pain is to be avoided. Ineffective, these jewels are not without risk for children: many deaths by suffocation or strangulation have been reported.
Piercing the gums is very dangerous for the infant, with increased risks of injury and infections that can become serious.
Unsuitable objects given to the child to bite on could get stuck in his throat with a major risk of choking.
Know when to consult
A quick consultation with your doctor is essential in the event of certain symptoms:
- significant pain;
- a fever above 38.5°C;
- a baby's lethargy, or the presence of unusual signs.
Be aware of non-specific and misleading symptoms: they can indicate teething, but also indicate an infection such as tonsillitis or ear infection, for example. To learn more on our post ENT pathologies in babies .
